Afternoon Drive withJoanne Joseph

In 2010, two babies born on the same day were swopped at the hospital when nurses mixed them up, unbeknown to their parents.

The families were unaware of the mistake until one of the mothers underwent blood tests to prove the paternity of her ex-husband, when he refused to pay child support, saying that he was not the father.

A court- appointed child law expert recommended that the children should stay with the parents who raised them and that the biological parents would be granted visiting
rights, as this would be in the best interest of the children.

The women identified as Madame X, to protect the identity of the children, told 702 on the Afternoon Drive Show in 2014, that the hospital workers had dismissed her claim that she had given birth to a girl when she queried it and had just laughed at her; making fun of her.

Xolani managed to speak to Madame X's lawyer, Henk Strydom, who informed him that three out of four of the parents were happy with complying with the initial report compiled by the Centre for Child Law Director Anne Skelton, who made a recommendation that the children should stay with the parents who have raised them.
However, the father of Madame X's family brought in a late application to postpone the matter in order to look at a possible adoption plan, and to consult with Customary Law Experts, as both families are from different customary backgrounds.

Strydom did share his annoyance at this application, as the matter would've been finalised by now.
He did however share his delight in the fact that there was no animosity between the mothers, who have both been affected by this.